By Kanji Usui
Recently, I found myself conducting a fundraising campaign for the first time in my life. I wanted to share some reflections on the experience.
I received contact from a former colleague—not Japanese—whom I hadn't heard from in several years.
I cannot go into detail, but they had fled to another country with a relative's child and, after years of hardship, developed a serious illness. They conveyed that they might not survive, and asked for financial assistance and help caring for the relative's child—a heavy request indeed. (For context, while scams of this nature are common, the message contained information only they would know, included their photograph, and a medical diagnosis was sent later, so please be assured of its authenticity.)
Given that neither the company nor I were in a strong financial position, I decided to reach out to Japanese colleagues who had worked directly with this former coworker, asking for donations.
Since the illness progresses rapidly, I set a one-week timeframe and immediately launched the fundraising campaign. After waiting a week with virtually no response, I was beginning to lose hope when, on the final day, messages came pouring in all at once! I can only say I felt genuinely grateful—it was a truly warm and moving experience.
Most of those who responded positively to the appeal were people I had worked with directly in the field. As I had anticipated, those I'd only met a few times or who rarely left their desks to work on-site showed no response.
It's obvious, perhaps, but people rarely take action for someone they have little or no connection to. In other words, the relationships we build with others in ordinary times become crucial when circumstances demand it.
This experience prompted me to reflect seriously on how I interact with others on a daily basis and what kinds of relationships I am cultivating.